Mike Hawley
Record file — Hawley will take over the South Whidbey precinct commander role starting Jan. 1. Hawley served as Island County Sheriff for 11 years prior to running the North Whidbey precinct since 2007.

Tingstad acted as commander for more than 15 years. He could not be reached for comment as he left town on vacation.

Hawley will assume the role at the start of the new year.

“It feels like I’m back home,” Hawley said. “I may have to re-familiarize myself with some of the newer road names since the last time I was on patrol on the South End was in 1990, but it shouldn’t be a big change. I’m looking forward to it.”

Hawley is currently the North Whidbey precinct commander. He’s held the position for 11 years, since stepping away from the sheriff position in 2007.

Hawley served as sheriff for 11 years after taking over for his predecessor midterm. He served for three terms.

“I’ve worked in practically every position for the sheriff’s office,” Hawley said. “At one point I was the jail commander, worked ICOM dispatch and I’ve been a detective.”

Since Hawley lives on the South End, he said it made sense for him to fill the void left by Tingstad’s retirement. He’s also familiar with his new team; he says he’s worked with all the deputies based out of the South Whidbey precinct since he’s worked for the Island County Sheriff’s Office for about 30 years.

Hawley made international headlines last year when he arrested Arcan Cetin, the man who killed five people in the Cascade Mall shooting in Burlington. Cetin was arrested in Oak Harbor after the sheriff’s office discovered he had connections to the city. Hawley is known in the sheriff’s office for his ability to track people down, but attributes the arrest to “being in the right place at the right time.”

The new South Whidbey precinct commander is also a published novelist. Hawley has penned two murder mystery novels, including “Double Bluff” and “Silent Proof.” Both are set in Seattle, despite one taking the name of the public beach in Freeland.